Cycling Ireland Welcome €290m Investment In Active Travel Projects In 2023
Cycling Ireland welcome news that the government have committed to spending €290m on walking and cycling infrastructure in 2023.
In a statement this week, The Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan confirmed that the National Transport Authority (NTA) has allocated funds to Ireland’s local authorities to support Active Travel projects.
This substantial investment will fund approximately 1,200 Active Travel projects, contributing to the development of almost 1,000km of new and improved walking and cycling infrastructure across the country by 2025.
This includes the development of segregated cycle lanes and widened footpaths, new walking and cycling bridges and greenways.
In total, the 2023 fund allocation for Active Travel will allow for the progression of 387 projects in the Greater Dublin Area, 250 across other regional cities and a further 502 projects across rural Ireland.
Some of the major projects receiving funding include the Dodder Greenway between Herbert Park and Donnybrook Road in Dublin, a new cycle and pedestrian bridge over the N40 in Cork, connecting to Tramore Valley Park, and the connection of the Waterford Greenway from Bilberry into the heart of Waterford City Centre.
The continued investment in cycling infrastructure such as greenways, segregated cycle lanes is crucial to ensure the development of cycling in Ireland.
Cycling Ireland Get Ireland Cycling Officer Paul Norton said:
“This week's announcement by Minister Ryan is another step in the right direction to get more people active and incentivising people to take more trips, especially those under 5km, by bike. These projects are going to help non-cyclists rediscover the joy of cycling, help people choose cycling instead of getting in their car and help normalise cycling to school, college and work in a safer environment."